This is a page containing a sample lecture from NCSU's engineering program. The lecture runs for approimately for 45 minutes. The original source was VHS, and has been converted to several digital media formats. This page can be used as a:

• Test tool
  If you are not sure whether you have a certain helper application or plug-in installed that may be required for content, you can try the various types of content. Note that the titles are hyperlinked to help you get the correct application or plug-in should you find that you do not have it installed.
• Diagnostic Tool
  If you are certain that you have the "right stuff", but you are experiencing a problem with playback, the links below might help you determine where the problem might be. Be sure to also try the other diagnostic assistants as well that are at the bottom of this page.
• Evaluation Tool
  Which is better -- RealMedia, Windows Media or Quicktime for video? It depends on what you want to do, and your intended audience. You can see for yourself the differences in quality and playback for many different media types, optimised for differing bandwidth requirements.

If your primary focus is testing quality, it's recommended that you focus on the single rate streams as opposed to the RealMedia Multirate or Windows Multirate streams. They are more equivalent in terms of frame size and bandwidth requirements.

Diagnostic Assistants

• First, it may be good to determine what the status is of your network connectivity. UNC provides a diagnostic tool that can help.
• If your problem is related to RealMedia's player, perhaps these pointers might help.